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Installation & Maintenance

View the pre-sod preparation page before installation. printable installation guide

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  1. Prepare Soil - Spray to kill all weeds and remove from area loosen soil 5-6 inches deep. Add redwood or other compost to hold moisture. Grade - Smooth and level all surfaces to be sodded. Allow 1 inch below walks, patios, and driveways.

  2. Sprinklers - If you haven't done so, now is the time to update your sprinkler system or add a new one. A lot of information is on the web on this topic.

  3. Install Sod – Lay sod in straight line. Butt ends and edges together tightly. Do not overlap. Cut across a sod strip. Use a half piece to start every other row to stagger sod as in laying bricks. Trim free form areas with sharp knife.

  4. Water - When 200 to 300 square feet has been installed, water lightly. Continue to install sod and to water lightly until installation is complete. Then roll lightly to assure good soil contact.

  5. Irrigate – Morning watering are best. Immediately following installation, water thoroughly. Soil should be moistened to 3-4". Water at regular intervals to keep sod moist until rooted. The new sod should be well rooted in l0 - 14 days. Traffic should be avoided on the new lawn until after the first mowing in 7-10 days.
    -Bluegrass - Avoid evening watering. Usually 2-3 watering in moderate weather. Light daily AM watering in hot summer months recommended to keep turf from heat stress. (The same may be true for fescues on very sandy soil.)
    -Fescues - During the warm summer months, 2-3 watering per week may be necessary; whereas one good watering per week will generally be sufficient in moderate weather. Remember; soil types, weather, rainfall, irrigation set-up, and the quality of turf desired should all be considered when determining your irrigation requirements.

  6. Mowing - After Sod establishment, Mow with a clean sharp Mower blade. Gold Coast (Bluegrass) 1 ½” – 2.” Triumph 2 (Dwarf  Fescue) 1 1/2“- 3" Bonsai (Dbl Dwarf) 1" - 2 1/2“ Perennial Ryegrass 1‘ Higher mowing heights encourage deeper rooting and are best for Warmer months.

  7. Fertilizer - Broadcast fertilizer evenly onto sod every 4-6 weeks and water well. Use of a good duality complete fertilizer (one containing N-P-K and minor elements) is best. Be sure to read the fertilizer package label prior to application and follow all recommendations as to rate of application. This promotes a healthy dark-green lawn.

 

Dog Spots - If you have a female dog or immature male dog you may notice burned or discolored spots on your lawn developing. These spots are likely due to dog urine. If you have a mature male dog, it is unlikely that you will get urine-caused lawn spots because male dogs urinate on bushes, poles and other landmarks... Printable PDF

MAINTENANCE TIPS

Once the ground has been prepared and sod has been laid, it is time to focus on proper sod maintenance to ensure a lawn flourishes during the weeks and months to come. Central Coast Sod provides free advice to our Customers to perfect their sod maintenance routines and achieve an ideal lawn health and appearance.
 

Without proper maintenance, even the healthiest sod can fail to root. The first four to six weeks after sod installation are crucial to the survival and condition of the sod. Modern Turf identifies specific steps necessary for developing sod that roots and actively grows.

Sod maintenance should change with the seasons, making it important to work with professionals who understand the unique needs of each season and can create a customized sod maintenance plan that is right for each individual lawn and local climate.
 

Installing an irrigation system, such as an automated sprinkler system or a root soaking system will ensure the sod receives the moisture necessary for proper rooting and growth.The sod should receive water several times each day for approximately two to four weeks, or until it has thoroughly rooted into the underlying soil. After this initial frequent watering period, once a day and then a couple times a week is typically sufficient irrigation unless there is a time of severe heat or drought.
 

People should prevent walking on the new sod while it is rooting in order to avoid forming air pockets that can prevent proper root growth. Rolling the sod is another way to pack down the sod and promote root attachment. Additionally, fertilizing about six weeks following installation is an important step to sod maintenance.
 

When conducting sod maintenance, it is important to pay attention to the details, such as watering immediately after applying fertilizer, which if neglected can burn the grass.

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